Chapter 568: Chapter 566: Remember to send me a message when you are on holiday

Just as Xue Xing was about to end the call, a familiar and somewhat authoritative voice suddenly came from the other end. "Hey, Xue Xing. If you dare to hang up, just you try it."

Startled, Xue Xing’s hand froze. He cautiously replied, "Si... Sister Si Wen."

Si Wen chuckled lightly. She walked out onto the balcony as she spoke, "You were just saying I’m still at your brother’s place this late? What, am I not allowed?"

Xue Xing hurriedly denied it, "No... I didn’t mean that."

"You did. I heard you," Si Wen said teasingly.

Xue Xing grew a little flustered. "How can you eavesdrop on someone else’s phone call?"

Si Wen retorted nonchalantly, "Your brother has his phone volume on blast. Do I need to eavesdrop?"

Hearing Si Wen’s explanation, Xue Xing let out a sigh of relief. He quickly apologized, "Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that."

Si Wen hummed softly, seemingly pleased with his reaction. "Seeing as you realized your mistake so quickly, I’ll be the bigger person and forgive you."

"Thank you, Sister Si Wen," Xue Xing said sincerely.

Si Wen was left speechless.

This fool... he never talks back, no matter what I say.

After that, their conversation became more relaxed.

"You’re on a break?" Si Wen asked.

"Yeah, just for tonight. I have to go back to school early tomorrow," Xue Xing replied.

"When’s your next break?"

"Probably about a month from now."

"Remember to message me when your break starts." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Why?" Xue Xing asked curiously.

"No ’why.’ Just do it because I said so," Si Wen’s tone left no room for argument.

"Oh..." Xue Xing obediently agreed.

"It’s late. You should go to sleep."

"Okay, Sister Si Wen. You get some sleep too. Good night."

"Good night."

...

Lin Xi came out after tidying up the kitchen. When she didn’t see Si Wen in the living room, she asked, "Where’s Si Wen? Did she go home?"

Xue Yang glanced toward the balcony and replied, "She’s on the phone with Xue Xing."

Lin Xi looked toward the balcony just in time to see Si Wen push the door open and walk back in.

Her eyes were smiling. It seemed she had become much more cheerful lately.

"All done cleaning?" Si Wen walked cheerfully over to Lin Xi, her voice filled with delight.

"Yep, just finished," Lin Xi responded.

"Well, I won’t keep you two from your quality time. I’m heading out." Smiling, Si Wen waved goodbye and left through the door.

Watching Si Wen’s retreating figure, Lin Xi shook her head slightly and said in a teasing tone, "That Si Wen... she so clearly has feelings for the guy but just won’t admit it."

Xue Yang, sitting on the sofa and flipping through TV channels, responded unconcernedly, "Maybe she thinks Xue Xing is still too young and is too embarrassed to ’corrupt’ him."

Lin Xi walked over and sat beside him. With a playful tone, she said, "Weren’t I ’corrupted’ by you back when I was a senior in high school?"

Hearing this, Xue Yang looked up at her, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "Are you sure *I* was the one ’corrupting’ *you*?"

He couldn’t help but chuckle wryly. He had struggled so hard to restrain himself back then, and now this Xiao Naimao was turning the tables on him.

Lin Xi’s cheeks turned slightly red. She pouted, "I don’t care. You did, so there!"

"Alright, alright, you win." Xue Yang shook his head with a doting smile. "It’s getting late. Go take a shower and get some rest."

Lin Xi blinked playfully and whispered, "Together?"

Xue Yang froze for a moment, then smiled helplessly.

This Xiao Naimao has gotten much bolder since being ’unlocked.’

...

「The next morning」

Chen Ying woke from her slumber to find herself on the soft mattress of a hotel bed. A surge of panic instantly drained the color from her pretty face.

She tried hard to recall fragments of the previous night. She only remembered going to her usual tavern for a few drinks and then calling Wu Xiaoya.

Then, a seemingly familiar figure appeared in her line of sight, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember who it was.

The hangover made her feel awful. She struggled to throw off the covers and check her clothes.

Fortunately, her shirt and pants were still on her, completely undisturbed. This eased her anxiety slightly.

"Who on earth brought me here?" Chen Ying murmured to herself, utterly confused.

Just then, she heard a familiar voice from near the door. "You’re finally awake."

She looked up to see Sun Yufei sitting on the sofa, a look of anxiety on her face.

"You’re... a junior?" Chen Ying recognized Sun Yufei and said gratefully, "Thank you so much for last night."

Sun Yufei waved her hand. "Don’t be so quick to thank me. Senior Xiao Ya was the one who asked me to come over, so you owe the favor to her. There’s congee on the table. I have class this afternoon, so I’m leaving."

After taking a few steps, Sun Yufei turned back and added, "Oh, right. Settle the room fee yourself when you check out." With that, she hurried out of the room.

Chen Ying watched Sun Yufei’s departing figure, her heart filled with gratitude.

She also realized her mistake. No matter how upset she got, she could never go out drinking alone again. Last night’s experience had left her shaken; if she hadn’t managed to contact Xiao Ya in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

She picked up her phone and dialed Wu Xiaoya’s number.

"Xiao Ya, about last night... I’m so, so grateful," Chen Ying’s voice conveyed sincere gratitude.

"I’m just glad you’re okay. Don’t go drinking by yourself again. It’s truly dangerous," Wu Xiaoya’s voice was full of concern and admonishment.

"I know. I’ll never do it again. I’ve already decided I’m going back to Hui City."

"Have you really decided?"

"Yeah. I don’t know anyone here, and staying isn’t making me happy. It’s better to go back; at least I’ll have you for company. Xiao Ya... about what happened last time, I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?" There was a hint of hope in Chen Ying’s voice.

"I stopped being mad a long time ago. Besides, I was at fault, too. Let’s just say we’re even," Wu Xiaoya’s answer was a huge relief to Chen Ying.

"That’s wonderful! Thank you, Xiao Ya. Just one more thing... can you please not tell Xue Yang I’m coming back to Hui City?"

"Sure."

In truth, she wouldn’t have told Xue Yang even if Chen Ying hadn’t asked. There was simply no need. But of course, Wu Xiaoya wasn’t going to tell Chen Ying that. She’d suffered enough already.

After hanging up, Chen Ying ate the congee, washed up, and checked out of the hotel. Then she went back to her rented apartment and bought a plane ticket to Hui City.